Kernel panic log help needed

Question

After reading through the discussions, I have come to the conclusion that my computer is experiencing kernel panic. For the last two weeks it has been asking me to restart after I start up. I do- and then it seems to run ok- but very, very slowly.
So, I restarted in safeboot in order to delete any "recent or relevant" .kext files i found in system/library/extensions.
I did not find any that were recent except for itunes update.
so, i deleted the bootcache.ktext. and restarted.
upon restart, my computer was doing great until i pugged in my usb from my modem into the comptuer to connect to the internet. then got the restart screen.
then i checked the panic log and found this:
Sun Nov 20 13:02:09 2005
panic(cpu 0): mutexunlockwakeup: mutex 2098d50 holder 2486630
Latest stack backtrace for cpu 0:
Backtrace:
0x00083498 0x0008397C 0x0001EDA4 0x00025514 0x0008DAC8 0x33C3E658 0x33C3D7D8 0x00035148
0x00035028
Kernel loadable modules in backtrace (with dependencies):
com.TMM.iokit.udslusb(3.0.0)@0x33c3c000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily(2.1.5)@0x1ffef000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily(1.4.0)@0x201b4000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOSerialFamily(6.0.1d20)@0x20db9000
Proceeding back via exception chain:
Exception state (sv=0x203EAA00)
PC=0x00000000; MSR=0x0000D030; DAR=0x00000000; DSISR=0x00000000; LR=0x00000000; R1=0x00000000; XCP=0x00000000 (Unknown)
Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 7.9.0:
Wed Mar 30 20:11:17 PST 2005; root:xnu/xnu-517.12.7.obj~1/RELEASE_PPC
i don't know what this means- but i see some "usb" letters in there and wonder if this has anything to do with the external modem that my broadband company gave me. although i've been using it for a while and this has only happened recently.
next idea, is that i have recently installed third party software. I cannot determine what was the most recent (is there a log of this?) so i can uninstall it (and how do you go about uninstalling software- just trash it?)
I have recently installed Skype software for VOIP- but i've had it for a month now and this has only happened in the last 2 weeks. I'd unistall it but do not know how.
If someone could look at that log and decipher it- that would be great.
and- honestly, i need a true step by step plan to slove the issue.
thanks!!!

Answer 1

I will run the test after work today- do I just put in the installation disk or do i need to be in safe boot mode?
I think yours is a good theory- that would explain why my computer is suddenly sooo slow.
If my memory did get knocked out of place- will i have to send it in to be repaired?
But then again- how could this be connected to the USB port?
i've repaired permissions yesterday before the posting. it found lots of errors and said it repaired them. do i need to run it again until it doesn't find any?
The other thing i'm wondering is that I only have 17 days left on my warranty- Should I purchase applecare? i used to think this was ripoff but now i might be singing to a different tune.
Thanks for your help- i'll let you know how it goes this evening.